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Northern Harrier
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Northern Harrier

by Luke Ormand

Gallery: AvianPosted March 2, 2011114 views7 comments
This flight shot is about 2 years in the making. . . still not "perfect" but I'm pretty happy. Captured at the EPCAL grasslands while driving along the old runway @ 25-30 mph with hands on the camera and none on the wheel (there isn't a whole lot to run into out there except grass) as the bird floated along the grass edge.

Nikon D300s 300 f4 + 1.7X TC HH
f/6.7
1/2500s
ISO 1000
-.33 EC

Cropped to 68%, sharpened using smart sharpen and USM, noise reduction on background, levels adjustment in CS5 on a 27" iMac

- Luke

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Randy Bacon on March 2, 2011 at 10:36 PM
I love the soft warm light and the head turn back under the wing. That's quite a story about your method of capture - I wonder if that will work here in Houston? Nice shot Luke.
Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on March 2, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Yeah, but I've seen you New Yorkers driving like that on the Expressway too... :wink: This is quite good considering the lens. You'll be a force to be reckoned with once you get the 400mm. :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by David Haynes on March 2, 2011 at 11:33 PM
Luke,
I love the story on how you captured this image. Nice and sharp considering the moving vehicle, bumps and potholes. I love the head turn Luke. Much better head angle than my image. The lighting looks really good as you have great light on the eye. I'd be happy too with this Luke.
Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments
Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on March 3, 2011 at 3:58 AM
Another great capture, Luke ! Well done.
Mauro
Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments
Comment posted by Karen Summers on March 3, 2011 at 6:14 AM
Great story of how you got this image good job there was nothing to run into lol, a great image you have captured I my try out that way, well maybe not :smile:
Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 3, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Luke, you are taking distracted driving to a whole new level!! Nice catch for everything you went through to get this. I assume like me, you have a hard time getting in position for these harrier shots.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 3, 2011 at 9:10 PM
Those driving skills would fit right in here in Alaska, Luke. An interesting approach to getting a flight shot. Sweet light, and love the head turn.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments